Internal-combustion engine.



R. KOEHRKIH.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC- a. 19:3. RENEWED AUG. 12.1916.

Patent-ed Jan. 9, 1917.

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R. ROEHRICH.

INTERNAL comsusnow ENGINE. APPHCATION FILED DEC- 3, l9l3- RENEWED AUG. 12,1916- Patented RUDOLPH ROE-ERICK, OF NEW YORK, Y.

INTERNAI-GOMBUSTION ENGINE.

Patented Jan. 9, 1917.

Application filed December 3, 1918, Serial No. 804,358. Renewed August 12, 1916. Serial No. 114,625.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, RUDOLPH ROEHRIGH,

a citizen of the United States, and resident.

produced, and whereby the operation of the exhaust controls and determines the inflow of the fresh gas to the engine cylinder proportionally to the outflow of the burned gases in a manner to eifect and insure a smooth and gradual starting of the engine and also a balanced and steady running thereof, irrespective of the velocity of the engine, whether high ,or low.

In the present illustrative form of embodiment of my invention the burned gases are exhausted from the engine cylinder through the agency of a vacuum structure, and connections are provided between said structure and the valve of the gas inlet port whereby the pressure in said structure is utilized to adjust the valve and regulate the inflow of fresh gas to the cylinder proportionately to the outflow of the burned gases fromthe latter, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings Figure 1 15 a vertical section, partly in elevation, of a single-cylinder engine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional detail of spring-adjusting devices for the valve of the inlet port to the engine cylinder. Fig. 3 is a similar detail of the air-inlet valve for the vacuum chamber. Fig. 4. is a plan of the engine shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a vertical section, partly in elevation, of a double-cylinder engine embodying my invention. Fig. 6 is a similar view of the single-cylinder engine as equipped with modified valve featu es.

10 designates the engine cylinder; 11 the v piston therein; 12 the crank shaft, and 13 the pitman connection between the piston and shaft.

the casing.

to be opened by the piston as it reaches the limit of its forward or power stroke, and then is closed and maintained closed by the piston as it resumesand continues its return or compression stroke.

15 designates the gas inlet port. It is arranged at the top of the cylinder and is provided with a suitable valve 16 adapmd to control the periodical ingress of the explosive charge to the cylinder during the reciprocation ofthe piston. In the present instance this valve 16 is a puppet valve, the stem 17 of which extends through the valve casing and is held normally raised, to seat the valve, by a spring 18 which, encircling the stem, bears against a collar 19 on the latter and on an opposing collar 20 through which the stem slides. Provision is had for the automatic adjustment of the collar 20 longitudinally of the stem in order to vary the seating force of the spring, as will hereinafter appear.

Adjacent the cylinder is a vacuum cylinder 21 which is operatively connected by means of a pipe 22 with a suitable rotary air-exhaust pump 23 on the crank-shaft. The lower portion of this cylinder 21 is connected by means of a pipe 24 with the exhaust portl l, whereby when the piston approaches the limit of its forward stroke the burned gases are eifectually withdrawn from the engine cylinder and discharged through the pump; and at the same time a fresh charge of gaseous mixture is drawn into the engine cylinder through the inlet port.

Leading from the top of the vacuum cylinder 21 is a pipe 24' provided with a diaphragm casing 25 within which is confined a flexible diaphragm 26 having a central stem 27 which extends outwardly through This stem is encircled by aspring 28 which, bearing against the easing and a collar on the stem, tends to maintain the diaphragm normally retracted of the tank, the other lever-arm being connected by means of a link 31 with a slotted wedge member 32 mounted to slide longitudinally upon a complen'ientary inclined surface 33 on the casing through which the stem of the inlet valve 16 freely projects. The wedge member is thus nicely raised or lowered as it is longitudinally moved forward or back on the opposing inclined surface by the variable pressure upon the diaphragm with which the Wedge member is connected. The collar 20 above referred to upon which bears the spring 18 rests upon the wedge member and hence such collar partakes or the adjustments of the latter and accordingly varies the force of the spring.

In the bottom of the vacuum cylinder is a cook 34, the stem of the inlet valve 35 of which is afiixed to a crank lever 36'. Beam.

ing against one of the lever arms is a suitably-disposed spring 37 which tends normally'to maintain the lever 36 in position with the valve closed. The other arm of the lever is connected by means of a link 38 with an arm 39 extending from the pivot pin of the rock-lever 29, and hence when the latter is actuated through the inward movement of the diaphragm as above described the arm and link are raised in a manner to turn the crank lever 36 and thus open the cock for the admission of a1r to the vacuum chamber. Thereupon the diaphragm resumes its normal condition, and

the cock is closed.

From the foregoing described construction it will be seen that in the operation of my improved engine a partial vacuum is stablished in the cylinder 21; that the piston as it approaches the limit of its forward or power stroke uncovers the exhaust port of the engine cylinder; that thereupon the burned gases are drawn from the engine cylinder into the vacuum chamber and discharged thence through the pump, and that during the removal of the burned gases a fresh charge of explosive gas is introduced to the engine cylinder by way of the inlet port 15 in the top of said cylinder. It will also be seen that the piston in its return or compression stroke immediately closes the exhaust port, and that the pump exhausts the vacuum chamber of the products of combustion delivered thereto. Further, that should there be at any time av too rapid Withdrawal of the burned gases, by the action of the pump the diaphragm controlled devices will be automatically operated to increase to a greater or less extent, proportionally to the outflow of the burned gases, the force of the gas-inlet valve spring 18, at the same time opening the valve nd permittinp the inflow of air to the vacuum chamber.

An important feature of my invention resides in the facility with which the engine may be started preparatory to the ellicient exhausting of the air from the vacuum chamben Normally the pressure oi the spring is relatively light and hence the inliow of the fresh gas to the engine cylinder is permitted upon the initial turning or r-i'ziiili'iiig" of the engine shaft. The withdrawal of the burned gases through the vacuum chamber starts slowly, but as the engine speeds up thc vacuum increases; a more rapid withdrawal of the burned gases ensues, and the requisite adjustments or" the spring to vary its force and thus determine the inflow of fresh gas to the engine cylinder proportionally to the discharge of the burned gases, are ellicicntly accomplished.

In Fig. 5, I have illustrated my invention as applied to a two-cylinder engine, wherein as will be observed the exhaust ports 1% ol the two cylinders 10 are connected with the pipe 24 leading to the vacuum cylinder 21, and the valves 16 of the inlet ports are, each provided with a spring regulating wedge member operatively connected with the diaphragm of the vacuum chamber.

In Fig. 6 is illustrated a single cylinder engine equipped with a su 'iplemental valve for theexhaust, said valve being of the reciprocating grid-type, as 40, having a depending plunger 41 which is maintained in operative contact wilh a cam 42 on the crank shaft 12 by means of a suitably-disposed compression spring 43. The cock 34: is also illustrated as connected by means of a link it and lever 45 with a separate diaphragm 10 structure 46 arranged in the top of the pipe 22 leading from the vacuum chamber to the pump 23, whereby said cock is operated independently ot the controlling devices for the gas-inlet valve.

I claim 1. In-an internal combustion engine, a cylider having inlet and exhaust ports, a piston adapted to reciprocate in the cylinder, a valve for the inlet port, means connected 110 with the exhaust port for withdrawing the burned gases from the cylinder, and regulating devices for the said valve under the influence of the said means.

2.111 an internal combustion engine, a

(-yliiu'ler having inlet and exhaust ports, a piston adapted to reciprocate iu the cylinder and in its travel to open and close the exhaust port, a valve for the inlet port, a

vacuum stricture connected with the exhaust port, and regulating devices for said valve under the inlluerce or the pressure in said structure.

3. In an internal. combustion engine, a cylinder having inlet aul exhaust ports, a piston adapted to rcciprocite in the cylinder and. in its travel to open and close the exhaust port, a valve for the inlet port, a spring normally seating said valve, a

vacuum structure COD cutGd with the enie nees haust port, end regulating devices for the said spring under the influence of the pressure in the vacuum structure.

4:. In an internal combustion engine, a cylinder having inlet and exhaust ports, a piston edapteiltofreciprocete in the cylinder end in its travel to open and close the exheust port, .a-valve for the inlet port, a

spring normally seating said valve,- ,a vacuum; structure connected with the exhaust ort. e ieldin clia Jhia m under the D influence of the pressurein the said structure, and means connected with said diaphregin for varying the force of the spring.

5. In an internal combustion engine, a cylinder hevi inlet and exhaust ports a piston edepte to reciprocate in the cylinder and in its travel to open and close the exhaust port, at valve for the inlet port, a

vumlumstructrnre connected With the exhaust port, an air inlet for the vacuum strucport, an air inlet 0n the vacuum structure;

a valve for said air-inlet, and means under the influence of the pressure in said structure for controlling the operation of sairi valves.

Signed at New York, in the county and State of New York, this 2d day of Decemher, A. D, 1913.

RUDOLPH ROEHRIGH. Witnesses:

JOHN B. NOLAN, FRANK N. Ronnmen. 

